Sri Lanka will host the 12th International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) Asian and Oceanian Championship from December 12 to 19 at Port City Colombo, attracting an estimated 130 young sailors from 20 countries.
The championship will feature individual and team racing in the under-15 Optimist class, with competitors representing Asian and Oceanian nations as well as Argentina, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France and the United States.
Organised by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka (YASL) in collaboration with IODA and the Ministry of Sports, the event will include five days of racing across three fleets.
YASL President Lalin Jirasinha said hosting the championship was a significant milestone for Sri Lankan sailing and would give local young sailors an opportunity to compete against leading international competitors.
Sri Lanka last hosted the championship in 2016 in Trincomalee, having previously staged the event in 2012. The 2020 edition, also awarded to Sri Lanka, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2026 championship is expected to bring around 60 international coaches, team officials and managers, alongside international race officials and jury members.
Organisers said the event is expected to support sports tourism, promote sailing and encourage the development of youth sailing programmes, particularly in the Northern and Eastern provinces. (Newswire)